Electrical and other connecters



May 5, 1936. A. c. HEssEL 2,039,996

ELECTRICAL AND OTHER coNNEcTERs Filed April l2, 1934 Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL AND OTHER, coNNEc'rEns Application April 12, 1934, serial No. '120,295

s claims. (I. 17a-ssa) My invention relates to improvements in cable connecters and the like, and while adapted to many uses is especially suited for coupling electric lines,-particularly cables of high amperage capacity.

Brieiiy and generally, the invention aims to provide a simple, safe, cheap, easily assembled and highly eiiicient device of this character which comprehends interior members (which may constitute an electrical conductor) and an exterior separable-section housing which is preferably in part carried by each interior member, there being novel and preferably substantially enclosed and protected securing means associated with the housing for holding all parts assembled.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to furnish an electrical connecter comprising separable conductor and housing elements, wherein a housing section is carried by each conductor section, and wherein at least one securing element for attaching a conductor section to a housing section may be operated to lock the complete conductor and housing assembly together to form a unit,-the nature of the housing construction and locking means being such as to relieve the conductor from strain, which would tend to diminish its electrical efficiency.

The invention also resides in ,certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts and in modes of operation,-a1l of which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the following descriptive matter in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

In accordance with the patent statutes, the drawing and descriptive matter have been directed to what now appear to be preferred embodiments of the inventive concept. But it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of other mechanical expressions within the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimed hereinafter.

In the drawing, wherein the same reference characters have been used to designate the same parts in all views,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a connecter embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal'sectional view taken through a modied form of the invention, wherein the housing is provided by intertting dissimilar sections instead of by complemental duplicate sections as shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the device of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a further modification of the invention, which is similar to Figures 1 and 2, except that an automatically operable locking element is employed in place of the screw or screws I5 of Figure 2;

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, numerals 8, 9 designate the pin and socket sections of an electrical conductor, the section 8 having the pin extension 8B tting into the socket 9 of conductor section 9. This is conventional construction in power line connecters, it being observed that each of sections 8, 9 has an end recess I0 within which the terminals (not shown) of cables II may be soldered or otherwise secured.

As shown, the sectional conductor 8, 9 is pro vided with a protective housing comprehending interltting duplicate sections I2. Each section I2 has a tubular outer end portion I2, or the equivalent, for slidably receiving the outer end of one of the conductors 8, 9, which is locked therein by a screw IS-as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The inner, and preferably major, part of each housing section I2 takes the form of a halved tube, having lugs or tongue extensions I4 at its end. The inner ends of tubular portions I2a provide notches or 'seats I3 for receiving lugs I4, when sections I2 are tracked together to form the tubular housing or closure for conductor 8, 9 as indicated in Figure 1. From the disclosures of Figures 1 and 2, it will be plain that the intertting of the respective lugs I4 into recesses I3 will lock housing sections I2 together, except against relative longitudinal movement.

In the form of invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 the screws I5, which lock the respective conductor sections 8, 9 in the tubular end I2 of its housing section I2, may be availed of selectively or in unison to lock the housing sections i.:

I2 against longitudinal movement relatively of one another. This arrangement will now be described.

As shown in Figure 2, each connecter section 8, 9 is shown provided with a machine screw I5 working transversely therethrough, there being a counter-bore I1 for receiving the screw head |53. The outer end of such screw I5 is received in a hole I6, preferably located in the halved portion of its housing section I2 so as to hold the outer end of conductor 8 (or 9) in the tubular housing part |23. Thus, each4 connecter section 8, 9 will be held in assembly with its 'housing section I2.

When the housing and connecter assemblies I2, 8 and I2, 8 are interfitted, as shown in Figure 2, an inner counter-bored portion I8 of an opening I8 in one housing section I2 will be arranged in registry with the counter-bore I1 of the connecter 8 or 8 to which the other housing section I2 is attached. 'I'he screws I5 are made sufficiently long so that the heads I5* can be backed into the'aligned counter-bore I8 of one housing section I2, while still leaving a portion of the opposite end projecting into the hole I6 of the companion housing section, as shown at the right in Figure 2. In fact, the depth of the housing counter-bore I8 in relation to the length of screws I5 will preferably be such as to prevent retraction of the outer ends of screws I5 from the holes I8. The openings I8, as will be evi' dent, are for the admission of a screw driver for manipulating screws I5.

An important point to be noted is that the connecter sections 8, 8 have. per se, no interlocking elements; also, that the connection of conductor sections 8, 8 through the housing I2, l2 substantially relieves the conductors 8, 8 from strain. All of this greatly promotes the electrical eillciency of the conductor. Referring to the form of invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, the conductor sections 20, 2 I ,are adapted to intert as indicated at 2|* the same as in Figure 2. The protective housing comprises dissimilar interfitting tubular sections 22, 23,--the former secured to conductor section 20 by screw 24, and the latter to conductor section 2| by screw 28. The reduced boss-like inner end 22'l has a lineal rib 22h working in the mating groove 23b in the counter-bored, or socket portion 23n of housing section 23. This rib and groove formation 22, 231 not only serves to align the diametrically en-y larged inner end 21 of the transverse housing passage 21 of section 23 with a corresponding passage, 22 of housing section 22, within which latter is head 24I of screw 24,-but also reinforces and strengthens the sectional housing 22, 23.

'I'he structure of Figures 3 and 4 differs fromthat of Figures 1 and 2 in that only one housingv and conductor coupling screw, namely 24, is adapted to lock housing sections 22, 23 in assembly. Such screw 24 is adapted to be backed 23 and conductor sections 28, 2| carried thereby.

The coupling screw 25 which secures conductor section 2| to housingA section 23 is insertable through housing section hole 28, and takes in the threaded transverse bore of conductor section 2|, with its inserted end adapted to project into the hole 28 of housing section 23 to lock the elements together.

Figure 5 discloses a spring actuated pin construction applied to a housing structure like that` of Figures 1 and 2 lcomprising sections 30, 3I defining a cover for conductor sections, of which one is shown at 32. Conductor section 32, which corresponds to 8 of Figure 2 is carried by housing section 3| which has a tubular rear end (not shown) which receives the rear end of such conductor 32 Just as I2 receives 8 in Figure 2.

ter-bore 33* closes the outer end of the same. The rounded forward end of pin 34 extends through such bushing 36 to engage in an inner vsurface recess 38 of the adjacent housing section 30 when sections 30, 3| are fully tracked together like housing sections I2, I2 of Figures 1 and 2. 'I'he length of pin 34 from shoulder 35n to its rear end is such that the rear end of the pin 34 remains at all times at least partially projected into the recess 35 in the companion housing section 3|, so as to prevent the conductor section 32 from sliding out of the tubular end of its housingl section 3|. Use of pin structure 34, etc., enables the assembly Ato be automatically locked together by simply tracking housing sections 30, 3| together. When they are to be separated it is only necessary to insert a pin or the like through hole 38* and against the rounded end of connecter pin 34 to back same against spring 38, and at the same time pull housing sections 30, 3| apart.

It is believed that the operation of the devices disclosed in the various figures of the drawing will ber, wood or of phenol condensation product composition, and will necessarily be of same when the device is designed for use as an electrical connecter. While the riband groove constructional feature 22h, 23b is shown only in Figures 3 and 4; the automatically operating locking pin 34 only as applied to the housing structure of Figure 5 which is similar to that of Figures 1 and 2; yet it will nevertheless be apparent that these features may be utilized interchangeably in the illustrated and other embodiments of the invention.

The screws such as I5, 24, 25 will preferably be of metal, but maybe of other materials; and the same applies to the locking pin 34 of Figure 5. Pin 34 is especially suited for formation from insulating material such as a phenol condensation product and in many instances it may be very desirable to use such material.

As indicated earlier herein, the illustrated embodiments of the invention are to be taken merely as illustrative of preferred expressions of the invention. For instance, within the scope of the claims, the means such as I5, 24, etc., for preventing relative endwise shifting of the housing sections may lockingly engage the same without going through or even into the conductor elements such as 8, 8 or 20, 2|.-and the latter may be otherwise secured to housing sections.

'I'he assembled housing and connecter sections in pairs makes the device safe and convenient to use; and since the housing locking elements I5, 24 are substantially enclosed and protected `the device is very durable. Housing locking elements such as I5, 24 whether going through conductors, such as 3, etc., or not, are considered desirable over such constructions as exterior clips seated in a groove of adjacent housing sections as locking means. Referring to Figure 2, screws I5 may be threaded into holes I8 of the housing sections in which event the tubular housing ends I 2* for seating conductors 8, 8 would be unnecessary and the transverse bores in conductors 8. 8 would not need to be tapped.

y'I'he term cable, as used in the foregoing speciflcation and in the following claims, is to be construed as covering rods, shafts, etc.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electrical connecter having a pair of interiitting conductor bar sections. a substantially tubiform housing comprising separable sections, having lineally extending overlapping intertting parts, means securing each housing section to a different one of said conductor bar sections when the housing sections are disassembled, the securing means of at least one pair of said connected housing and conductor sections comprising a lineally movable pin-like member arranged in opposition to an overlapping portion of the other housing section, said overlapping portion of said last-mentioned housing having a pin-receiving recess, and one of said housing sections providing means whereby said pin may be operated.

2. In an electrical connecter having a pair of intertting conductor bar sections, a substantially tubiform housing comprising separable sections, having lineally extending overlapping intertting parts, means securing each housing section to a different one of said conductor bar sections, the securing means of at least one pair of said connected housing and conductor sections including a pin yieldably bearing against an overlapping portion of the other housing section, said overlapping portion of said last-mentioned housing having a pin-receiving recess, and one of said housing sections providing means whereby said pin may be released from said recess.

3. In an electrical connecter having a pair of interfitting conductor bar sections, a substantially tubiform housing comprising separable sections, having lineally extending overlapping interfitting parts, means securing each housing section to a different one of said conductor bar sections, the securing means of at least one pair of said connected housing and conductor sections comprising a lineally movable pin-like member arranged in opposition to an overlapping portion of the other housing section, said overlapping portion of said last-mentioned housing having a. pin-receiving recess, reinforcing means for said housing comprising a lineally extending tongue and groove construction provided by said sections and whereby the same may be tracked together to align said pin and recess, and one of said housing sections providing means whereby said pin may be operated.

4. A cable connecter or the like, comprising a pair of cable terminal members, a pair of interconnectible housing sections, means connecting at all times one housing section to one terminal member and the other housing section to the other terminal member, at least one of said housing section-and-terminal-connecting means including a transversely movable pin, and means including said transversely movable pin for locking said housing sections together and the terminal members in contact with one another.

5. A cable connecter or the like, comprising a pair of cable terminal members, a pair of interconnectible housing sections, means connecting at all times one housing section to one terminal member and the other housing section to the other terminal member, at least one of said housing section-and-terminal-connecting means including a transversely movable screw threaded through the terminal member, and means including saidv transversely movable screw for locking said housing sections together and the terminal members in contact with one another.

6. A connecter for electric cables and the like. comprising interengageable conductor sections, separate housing sections having portions arranged to overlap when the housing sections are assembled, said overlapping housing portions having their inner surfaces providing opposed seats, means detachably connecting one housing section to one conductor section and the other housing section to the other conductor section, at least one of said housing and conductor section-connecting means including a transversely movable pin carried by one conductor section and having an end constantly engaging in the seat of its connected housing section, the overlapping housing portions having means to prevent relative shifting of the assembled housing sections in the direction of the axis of said pin, and said pin being movable into the seat of said second housing section to lock the housing and conductor section assemblies rigidly together.

7. An electrical connecter comprising a separable section conductor bar, a housing therefor and comprising separable sections carried by the respective conductor bar sections, said housing sec- 8. An electrical connecter comprising a separa- 

